Invertebrates
Wall Brown
Lasiommata megera
On a sun-warmed wall at the edge of a field, a wall brown spreads its barred orange wings flat against the stone, ready to burst into the air if anything comes too close.
Overview
The wall brown, Lasiommata megera, is a Least Concern butterfly of dry grassland and sunny rough ground across Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Its tiger-barred orange wings and love of basking on warm surfaces make it distinctive, though it has declined sharply in Britain.
A butterfly that has vanished from many places
Once widespread across inland Britain, the wall brown has disappeared from much of its former range and now clings on mainly along the coast.
Status
Least Concern overall, though decreasing in Britain and parts of northern Europe.
Wall Brown: common questions
Why is it called the wall brown?
It is named for its habit of basking with its wings open on sunny walls, as well as on bare ground and rocks.
Has the wall brown declined?
Yes, it has declined strongly in Britain, disappearing from much of its inland range and surviving mainly along the coast.
How many broods does it have?
It often has two broods a year in Britain, in spring and again in late summer.
Where is the wall brown found?
It lives in dry grassland, quarries, and sunny rough ground across Europe, North Africa, and western Asia.